Automatic releasing-gear.



D. E. G'SNNELL UTQMTU LESIH GEAR. Hummm! rILED JULY 13, 1910,

Patented Jan 2, 1912.

1, Y Sinnen for,

.D @man D 'mm/ PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL D. OOONNELL. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC RELEAsINo-GEAB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Paten ted Jan. 2, 1912 Application tiled July 13, 1910. lerlal No. 571,706.

To all 'whom it may concern.:

Be it known that l, DANIEL D. OCoN- Mcm., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and 'useful Improvements in Automatic Releasing- Gea1s,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to a class of gears adapted more articularly for use in con nection with t e davits ofvships and like vessels for lowering boats therefrom into the water and which serves to ermit the boat to be vautomatically east .oose upon the surface of the water.

My invention has for its object to provide a releasing gear or device of efficient form and construction ada )ted to be held to a.

block and tackle of t e davits of ships or other like vessels and which may be readily connected to suitable means provided at the thwarts of a lifeboat or other boats whereby the same will be automatically released.-

from engagement with the block and tackle in a manner to safely lower the boat into the water, thus overcomin the danger of capsizing the boat es ecial ynduring rough and high-seas as incldent to such devices ordinarily in use.

Another object of the invention is t0 provide a form of releasing gear comprising.

mainly two members havin means to permit said members to revolve withrelation to each other so that either the bow or the stern of the boat may be disposed-in the desired direction when being lowered in the water. y l

A further object ofv the invention is to provide locking means to readily connect the boat to the block and tackle and to provide means for positively releasing said whereby the boat may be cast loose safely upon `the surface of the water" A practical embodiment of the im cntiou is re resented in the accompanyingdrawing orming a part of this specication, in which sineilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all'the views, i

the said invention being more fully7 described hereinafter and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In tie drawinv' Fi ure 1 is an eleva-fionv partly in section, of one Aform of device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the device. Fig. 3 is a top plan thereof. and Fig. 4 is a crosssection taken -on the line A-A of Fig. 1.

My releasing gear consists mainly of two members 1 and 2, and to the block and tackle of the davit of a ship or like vessel may he connected in any suitable manner the member 1. The member 1 Vmay be in the shape of a ring, as shown; or of any other preferred form, and upon one of the edges thereof is provided a neck 3 having a head 4 adapted to fit in a casing 5 of the member 2. A form of swivel or means G is thereby provided toconnect the members l an'd 2 to permit- Said members to move in relative relation so that the boat when being lowered over the sides of the vessel may be swung in the desired direction.

The member 2 has substantially a semicircular body7 7, and pro'ecting from the peri heral edge of said b y is the casing 5 of t 1e swivel 6, and said casing has a wall B in which is a rectangular opening, as t). An integral or separately formed cap 10 is provide upon the .wall 8 to form within the casing an annular chamber 11, and in the cap 10 is an openin or slot, as 12, which communicates wit the annular chamber 11 and also the rectangular opening 9. The opening 9 of the chamber 11 is larger than the slot 12 and by this formation retaining lu s or flanges 13 and 14 are provided upn the Wall 8 at the points of communication between the opening 9 and slot 12. .As illustrated, the head 4 of the member 1 is circular in form and is larger in diameter than the neck 3 so as to provide an annular shoulder 15. The annular chamber 11 is also larger in dimensions than the circular head 4 in order to allow said head to he freely admitted through the opening 9 and into the annular chamber 1l at the. same time permitting passage of the neck 3 into the slot; 12. When the head 4 is disposed within the chamber 11, the annular shoulder 15 will rest u on the inner surface of the cap 10 and sai head will be held against longitudinal dis )laceme'nt between the flanges fl and 14 an the inner surface l of the wall '8. To prevent vertical displacemem nl" the head 4 when ,arranged in the annular chamber 11 the wall 8 is apellured, as :u if?, and diametrically opposite in said wall is: formed an aperture 17. A dou'cl pin 1S is passed through the aperture 1G said casing. Through one of the openingsl and directed over the surface of the head 4 and through the aperture 17.

As a means whereby a boat may be readily connected to my gear and held securely in suspension while being lowered from the davits of a shii, upon one end of the circular body 7 ofl the member 2 are provided lugs, as at 19 and 2U, and between said lugs is hinged upon a pintle 21 a retaining arm or latch 22. lhe retaining arm 22 is preferably curved and u on the opposite end of said arm are forme a plurality of fingers 23 and 24. T he fingers 23and 24 are disposed in an opposite direction to the curvature of the retaining arm 22, and are ada t.- ed to be engaged by a like number of cate les or fingers 25 and 26 of a locking elelnent 27. The locking element 27 is preferably in the form of a curved arm which is pivotally held upon a bolt 28 between two lugs, as 29 and 30, provided upon the end of the body 7 opposite to the end hinged to the latch 22. The catches 25 and 26 are curved in an opposite direction to the fingers 23 and 24 so as to grip said fingers in a hook-like manner for locking the latch 22. By arranging the fingers 23 and 24 and catches 25 and 26 as described, it is clear, that as the force of the pull upon the davits tackle increases so will the latch 22 and locking element 27 hold tighter in locking engagement. Projecting from the hinged end of the locking element 27 is a lug 3l to which is pivoted one end of a rod 32 guided through an opening' in a recessed boss. as 34, provided upon the outer eripheral edge of the body 7 of the memer 2. Arranged in the recess of the boss 34 and encircling the l'od 32 is a spring 35 serving normally to force the lug 31 and locking element 27 in a direction to automatically throw thc catches 25 and 26 outof engagement with the fingers 23 and 24 of the latch 22. A knob, as 36, is arranged upon the end of the rod 32, and by manually pressing said knob inwardly the locking element 27 will be forced out of engagement with the latch 22 in case the spring 35 fails to release the boat from the gear.

ln order to further insure' a positive locking engagement between the latch 22 and locking element 27 when the boat is held in suspension a casing 37 is provided to inclose the latch 22. The casing 37 is formed with a bifurcated end. the prongs 38 and 39 of which are hinged by a bolt 40 to the body 7 of the member 2 adjacent to the hinged end of the locking element 27, an'd said casing is curved similarly to the locking element so as to overlap the catches 25 and 26. One edge of the locking clment 27 is transversely grooved, as at. 41, and in the casing 37 is formed a plurality of openings, as 42, which are disposed vertically, trans versely and crosswise respectively through 42 may be passed a pin, as 43, which are adapted 'to engage the roove 41 of the locking element 27 and hol said element against releasing movement from engagement with the latch 22. Upon one end of the pin 43 is formed an eye or hook 44 to which may be attached a line or cable so that when the boat is lowered into the water said line will be drawn taut and will extract said pin from the opening 42 no matter in what di` rection the boat may be positioned. .is an additional means to coperat with the spring 35 for automatically releasing the latch 22 to cast the boat loose I provide upon the free end of the locking element 27 a short stud or arm 45 which is disposed through a slot 46 rovided in the free-end of the casing 37. `or1ned upon the arm 45 is a weight or heavy ring 47 which is positioned out of the axial center of the pivoted end of said arm, and by this arrangement it is evident that'the catches 2o and 26 will be thrown out of engagement with the lingers and 24 should the tension of the spring 35 be insufficient to move the lockingvelenient 27 for releasing the retaining arm 22. It is also clear that a line or cable may be fastened to the ring 47 and which when pulled will move said ringand the arm 45 in the slot 46 to manuall unlock if desired the curved arm 27 from the latch 22.

It will be understood that. my releasing gear may be of any desired shape or size, and that changes may be iliade in the forms and proportions of the various parts thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, therefore I do not wish toy be limited to the particular design of gear herein described and set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A releasing gear of the character described, comprising a ring adapted to be fastened to allinc or cable and havinga. neck formed on the outer peri heral edge thereof, and provided with' ahea of larger diameter than the neck so as to `form a shoulder; a casing having an annular wall and a substantially rectangular' opening formed therein; a cap formed upon one end of the annular wall to provide a chamber within the casing and ha ving aln opening communieating with the rectangular opening, said openings being of a size to receive the neck and head of the ring; oppositly arranged apertures formed in the annular wall; a. pin guided through one of' the apertures andV directed over the upper surface of said head" and through the second aperture; a substan` lially semi-circular body provided upon the casing opposite to said cap; a curved retfaining arm hinged to one end of said body and having a plurality of fingers disposed oppositely to the curvature ofthe arm: a curved locking arin hinged to the opposite end of the body and provided with a plurality of catcheal disposed in an opposite direction to said fingers whereby the catches and lingers may loek in hook-like engagement; and means,l adapted to automatically release the curved retaining arm from the curved locking arm.

2. A releasing gear of the character described, comprising a ring and a semi-circon lar body; means for detacliably connecting the ring and said semi-circular body so as to revolve in relative relation; two lugs carrying a pintle formed upon one end ofthe semi-circularbody; a curved retaining arm having oneI end thereof pivotally held upon the pintle between said lugs; a plurality of fingers formed upon the oppositeV end of the retaining arm and disposed in an opposite direction to the curvature of said retaining y arm; two lugs carrying a. bolt formed upon the opposite end of the semi-circular body; a locking arm pivotally held upon the bolt between said lugs; a plurality of catches formed upon the locking arm and disposed in an opposite direction to the fingers ofthe retaining arm whereby the catches and fingers may lock in hook-like engagenient; a weight formed upon the free end of the lor-.king arm to unlock the locking arm and retaining arm from locked engagement.

3. In a releasingr gear the combination of ascoli-circular body; a retaining arm pivotally held to one end ol' the semi-eirrular body and having curved lingers formed upon the opposite end thereof; a locking arm pivotal y held to the opposite end ot' the Semi-circular body and also having curved fingers formed upon the opposite end thereof, Said curved lin fers being disposed so as to grip the curve fingernl of the retaining arm in hook-like engagement.; a lug formed upon the hinged end ot' the locking arm; a rod pivotally held to the lug; a spring encircling said rod and normally 1serving to force the catches of the locking arm and lingers of the retaining arm out ot' locked engagem'ent; a knolrformed upon the free end of said rod to manually more the rod for unlocking the locking arm Al'rom the retaining arm; and m'eans formed upon the semicircular body by which the gear may be connected to a. block and taelale or a boat.

4. In a releasing gear the combination of a Semi-circular body having two lugs formed upon one end thereof and earl-ying a pintle therethrough; a curved latch ha ving one end pivotally held upon the pintle between said lugs; a plurality of fingern' formed upon the opposite end of the lateh aml disposed in an opposite. direction to tht-, eur\'a ture of Iaid lateh: two lugs formed upon the opposite end of the leenii-eiiienlar body and carrying a bolt therethrough; a curved locking arm having one end pivot ally held upon the bolt between said luga; a plur'aluy ot -eatches formed upon the oppoaite end o l` the curved lockingarm and disposed in an oppo site direction to the lingers ofthe hitch so as to grip said lingers in a hool -lilte manner; a transverse groove formed in one edge of the curved locking arm: a curved easing hinged upon the semi-circular body adjacent to the hinged end of the curved locking arm and having a plu -ality of openings for passage therethrough of a pin to engage the Irans i'erse groove of tbc curved locking member; and means formed upon the Sen'iirircnlzu' body by which the gear may be connected to a tackle.

5. In'a releasing gear the combination of a semhcircular body; a curved latch having one end pivoted to one end of the semi-cir` cular body; a plurality of fingers formed upon the opposite end of the latch and disposed in an opposite direction to the curva` ture of said latch; a curved arm having one end pivoted to the opposite end of the semieircular body; a plurality of catrhes formed upon the opposite end of the curved arm and disposed in an opposite direction to the tingernl ot' the curved latch; a recessed boss provided.upon the outer peripheral edge of the Asemi-circular body; a lug formed upon the. hinged end of the curved arm: a rod pivolally held to the lug and directed through the recessed boss; a springencircling ,said rod within the recessed lio. and nor mally tending to force the catches of the curved arm and lingers of the curved latch out of locking engagement; a knob formed upon the free end-of said rod; a transverse groove formed in one edge ot` the curved arln; aeurved easing hinged upon the semirirrular body adjacent to the pivoted end of the. curved arm and having an opening; a pin having an eye formed upon one end thereof and removably held in the opening so as to engagey the tralisverse groove in the curved arm; a slot formed ill the upper t'ree end otA the enrvedeasing; a stud having one eud connected upon the free end ol' the curved arm and provided with a weighted ring to autmnatmally unlork the eurved latch from the curved arm when the fort-e olv the pull upon aaid curved latrh is 4duel"- ened; and means formed upon the 4aemheircular body by which the gear may be ronneeted to a line or cable.

ln a releasing gear; the combination with a smid-,circular body; of a curved re.- tainingr arm having one end pivotally held to one end ol` the aenii-eiri-ular body and having' two oppositely curved lingers l'orlned upon the opposite end thereol'; a curved arm haring one end pivotally held to the opposite end ot the selniwireular body. and having two catches provided upon the opposite end of the curved arm7 said catches being disposed in hook-like {o1-fixation; a lug the recessed boss, and normally pressing arranged upon the pivoted end of the curved against the lug of the curved arm. 10 arm; and nmans adapted tn automatically This Specification si ned and witnessed mow the carved arm to unlock the fingers this ninth day of July D. 1910.

- and said catches, said means consisting 0f a DANIEL D. OCONNELL.

recessed boss provided upon the semi-circu- Witnesses: V lar body adjacent to the pivoted end of the Rom. B. A Bo'rl, curved arm; and a spring arranged within S. SAHNER. 

